The Goodfellas-style hockey execution of Brian Burke took place Wednesday.

But the contract to take out the controversial Maple Leafs’ boss was cemented months ago.

“Anybody surprised by this did not know anything about the behind-the-scenes of Brian Burke,” said one hockey executive.

His being taken out by the new Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment ownership has been the subject of speculation since the end of last season.

In fact, in a scene that would make actor Joe Pesci proud, just prior to team officials heading down to New York for the board of governor’s meeting, Burke was whacked in a “face to face” meeting with MLSE president Tom Anselmi, board member Dale Lastman and co-owner Larry Tanenbaum.

Just like that, it’s all over. Ciao!

He took it like a man.

“All class,” Anselmi said.

Ironic, perhaps, since it was Burke’s usual antics that may have led to this.

So what is really behind Burke’s dismissal?

There is so much unsubstantiated innuendo, gossip and speculation but no matter what the actual reason, nobody that brash, bold, bombastic — and sometimes a bully — can last in the corporate world of 2013 without anything positive happening for the team.

Four losing seasons and no playoff dates are never going to be a selling point for continuance.

Poor signings, poor trades, dumb contracts and not enough Canadian players are some of the criticisms.

No delivery on any of the exciting promises that came with his posting in 2008. No sign of any on-ice “pugnacity, testosterone, truculence and belligerence.”

There was, however, belligerence off the ice.

Fans starved for a winner rooted for him and mourned his personal, family tragedy. This was not a hostile place for the well-compensated Burke. Like what’s happening to Mayor Rob Ford, there’s no reason Burke had to lose his dream job like this.

That he did was his own doing.

As the pressure of this very difficult job of being the Maple Leafs’ GM mounted, it seemed as if he melted down.

Whether it be to “rent a barn” to fight fellow GM Kevin Lowe, to complain to the CBC about Don Cherry and Ron Maclean behind their backs or to verbally duke it out with Newstalk 1010 morning man John Moore, it was clear Burke’s focus was not solely on the ice. His act at times was one of God Complex Inc. — sometimes charitable and lovable but sometimes caustic and vindictive.

“Brian had a style and we knew what we were getting when he was hired a number of years ago,” Anselmi skilfully told reporters. “This is really about a change in leadership voice and leadership direction.”

But Rogers and Bell prefer their stars be on the ice or TV screens.

Burke’s wacky Christmas trade deadline, or belief that there was too much pressure for players to play here, or the Kessel trade would be tolerable had there been some playoff games. Strangely, Burke actually said he did not “want to sneak into the playoffs in eighth place and then get smoked in the first round.”

It was a nonsensical approach at anytime but one awfully difficult to defend when the Stanley Cup champ ended up getting into the playoffs in the eighth spot.

Or maybe he got the pink slip because he never did, or refused to, find a way to get a real, big-time goalie?

Ironic, as well, since if Roberto Luongo becomes the Leafs’ new goaltender, the Brian Burke Show in Toronto will not only be officially over but memory of his time here on its way to oblivion.

His 15 minutes here are up. However, if this guy could have won some hockey games, it would have gone down as one of Toronto’s greatest reality shows of all time.

Maple Leafs say 'Arrivederci' to Brian Burkie

The Goodfellas-style hockey execution of Brian Burke took place Wednesday.

But the contract to take out the controversial Maple Leafs’ boss was cemented months ago.

“Anybody surprised by this did not know anything about the behind-the-scenes of Brian Burke,” said one hockey executive.

His being taken out by the new Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment ownership has been the subject of speculation since the end of last season.

In fact, in a scene that would make actor Joe Pesci proud, just prior to team officials heading down to New York for the board of governor’s meeting, Burke was whacked in a “face to face” meeting with MLSE president Tom Anselmi, board member Dale Lastman and co-owner Larry Tanenbaum.

Just like that, it’s all over. Ciao!

He took it like a man.

“All class,” Anselmi said.

Ironic, perhaps, since it was Burke’s usual antics that may have led to this.

So what is really behind Burke’s dismissal?

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